Piano action



March 2l, 1950- J. G. MARKLEY Y 2,501,529

' PIANO ACTION Filed Jan. 1o, 1946 2 sheets-sheet 1 i' y ?Z t /Zo l? z vf I.L M

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March 2l, 1950 J. G. MARKLEY 2,501,529

Q PIANO ACTION Filed Jan. l0, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheei. 2

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Wmv/Wu@ Patented Mar. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIANO ACTION J ay G. Markley, New Castle, Ind. Application January 1o, 1946, sei-iai No. 640,175

(c1. :s4-24o) 6 Claims.

rChis invention relates to improvements in piano action. More particularly, it relates to an action for the small upright piano which is characterized by low overall height, but it will work equally well on taller pianos.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an action which has a light touch which is also solid and rm and delivers a direct blow against the strings.

A further object is to provide an action which will repeat faster than conventional actions, and which has means to positively prevent blocking of the action.

A further object is to provide an action which can be regulated quickly and in which all regulating adjustments are convenient and accessible.

A further object is to provide an action which can be removed as a unit without disconnecting parts thereof.

A further object is to provide an action in which the bridle tapes of conventional actions are eliminated.

A further object is to provide an action in which the key capstans are easily adjusted.

A further object is to provide an action with a positive overhead back checking arrangement.

A further object is to provide an action which utilizes parts of standard size and hammer shanks of standard length.

A further object is to provide an action which can be applied to pianos of different heights and which is readily adjusted to accommodate the desired relative vertical positions or elevations of the keys and the action.

Other objects will be apparent from the description and appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is an end View of the action in its rest position with parts of the frame shown in section.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the action in its actuated and back-checked position.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral I designates a piano key which is pivotally mounted in any .suitable manner upon the key b'ed or plate l2, as is conventional. Numeral I4 designates the conventional vertical piano string.

The action is mounted upon suitable metal frame brackets (not shown) which are xedly secured to the piano frame, and has a main action rail I6 which is secured to said brackets.

A hammer rail I8, an upper raily 20, a back-check 55 f cord 68 or other suitable means.

regulating rail 22, and a jack-strike rail 24 all extend longitudinally and horizontally and are mounted by the frame brackets, although the rail 22 may be secured to or made a part of the upper rail 2U if desired.

A ilange 25 is secured to the action rail i6 by screws 23 or other suitable means and projects upwardly at the iront thereof. The butts of a series of hammers are pivoted at 32 to the upper projecting portion of flange 26. Each hammer includes a shank 34 of standard length and a hammer head 35 mounting the hammer head pad 38. The hammer butt includes a forwardly projecting knuckle portion 4i] which has a leather facing 42 at its front and bottom faces. In rest position, the shanks 34 of the hammers rest against a cushion 44 on the hammer rail I8.

A flange 46 is secured to the action rail I6 by screws 48 or other securing means andv depends from said rail at the rear thereof. A series of substantially horizontally positioned whips 50 are pivoted to the depending portion of flange 46 at 52 intermediate the ends of the whip.A Each whip carries an upwardly projecting stud 54 to Whose upper end is pivoted at 56 an elongated upright jack 58. The upper end of the jack normally engages the leather surfaced lower face of knuckle 40 of the hammer butt eccentrically of the pivot 32 of said butt. The jack 58 has a forwardly projecting arm 60 at its lower end which is adapted to strike a regulating button 62 just before the key strikes the string to disengage the jack from the hammer butt. Button 62 is mounted on and depends from an adjusting screw 64 threaded in the Iiack-strike rail A double action spring 66 is secured at its bot-` tom to the jack 58 and extends to the top of the butt 3H toI which it is connected by a silk The spring 66 is here shown as an elongated spring connected with the jack 58 and the hammer butt 40 and which is bent to be` tensioned when so connected and which has a double action, so that it performs the functions of urging the hammer toward its rest position, urging the jack toward its operative position underlying the hammer knuckle, by reason of its tendency to straighten, and restrains the parts from separation by its connection thereto. In other words it performs the functions of the hammer spring, the jack spring and the bridle tape which are conventionally employed in piano actions.

The piano key l 0 is connected by an adjustable capstan 'l0 with afitting l2. The iitting 7 2 is mounted on an elongated member connected to the whip and preferably including an elongated stiif wire 14 mounting a head 16 at its lower end which is pivoted at 18 to the front end of the whip 50. The wire T4 also mounts a head 80 at its upper end. The iitting 72 is preferably substantially L-shaped and has a passage extend-- ing longitudinally of one leg thereof in which the wire 'M iits slidably. The off-set or projecting portion 82 of the apertured leg of the tting has a transverse bore therein to receive a set screw 84 which projects forwardly to be readily accessible. The set screw clamps the tting upon the wire at any selected position upon the wire. Therefore, since the tting may be adjusted vertically on the wire, the action may be mounted in the piano in a convenient position and a range of vertical adjustment of the action relative to the keyboard equal to the length of Wire 14 is accommodated. This feature permits the action to be used in pianos of different heights.

A flange 86 may be secured to the upper rail 20 by screws 80 or other securing means to depend therefrom, and a lever 90 is pivoted thereto intermediate its ends at 92. the head 80 is pivoted to this lever 80 at 94. The rear end of lever 90 mounts a regulating member 96 adapted to bear against a pad 98 on the head 36 of the hammer and adjustable by means of a screw on the lever. The rear end A,

of lever 90 is adapted to engage a regulating button |02 depending from the back-check rail 20 and adjustable relative thereto by a screw |04. It will be observed that the lever 90 is operated directly by the key, simultaneously with the operation of the whip and jack to project the hammer against the strings. Consequently, the regulating member 96 is in position to engage the head of the hammer when the latter rebounds from the string, for back-checking purposes.

The action also includes a damper arrangement including a damper lever |06 which is pivoted intermediate its ends at |08 to a flange 0 secured to and projecting rearwardly from the top of the action rail I6. A damper spring ||2 is carried by the ilange ||0 and bears against the upper end of the lever |06. A damper spoon I4 is carried by the rear end of the whip 50 and bears against the lower end of lever |06. A stii wire H6 projects longitudinally from the upper end of lever |06 and adjustably mounts a damper block ||8 adjusted by means of set screw |20. The damper block ||8 carries the usual damper pad |22.

In operation, when the key I0 is depressed to pivot the whip 50, the jack 58 acts to project the hammer against the string in the usual manner, with release of the jack by spring 66 when fly arm 60 strikes button 62. Simultaneously, the back-check lever 90 is pivoted to a position to check the hammer upon rebound from the strings in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2. Then, as the key is released to lower the jack, with simultaneously release of the back check lever 90, from the hammer, the double-acting spring 66 again comes into play to return the jack into operative rest position beneath and engaging the bottom of the hammer knuckle as shown in Fig. l, This operation of the parts produces a faster repeating action than conventional constructions due to the correlated functions of the back-check upon the hammer head and the double acting spring upon the hammer butt and the jack. This fast repeating action is achieved without danger of blocking by virtue of the provision of The upper end oi 4 the regulating member 96 upon the hammer head and of the regulating button |02 upon the backcheck lever 90.

Other advantages of this combination and arrangement of parts are that the action has a light touch which results from the arrangement and balance of the parts. At the same time, the touch is solid or firm because of the three-point contact of the parts. Specifically, three points of contact are at the engagement of the capstan l0 with the key butt, the engagement of the lever with rebound button |02 and the engagement of the back check 06 with the hammer head Dad 98.

From the standpoint of construction and convenience, this action serves very advantageously. All regulations can be accomplished conveniently because of the accessibility of the parts to be regulated. In this connection note that the parts can be lined up easily both lengthwise and crosswise of the keyboard, and the back check 96 is easily regulated on lever 90 to Acatch the hammer head, the button |02 is easily regulated to control the action of the lever 90, the bridle spring is easily adjusted for proper functioning, and the entire unit is positionable at any elevation relative to the keyboard within a wide range. Also, except for the capstan connection with the key, the unit is independent and self-contained, so that it can be preassembled for installation with attention only to regulation after installation, and can be removed without disconnecting any parts. Troublesome bridle tapes of conventional constructions are entirely eliminated. Also the capstans are easily adjusted, and there is no need to provide keys with split ends as is common for conventional actions.

While the construction herein illustrated and described is preferred, it will be understood that changes therein may be made within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a piano action, a pivoted hammer having a head and an eccentric knuckle, means for projecting said hammer including a pivoted whip and a jack pivoted on said whip and normally underlying said knuckle, a double acting spring connecting said jack and knuckle, means for disengaging said jack from said knuckle at a predetermined point in the stroke of said hammer,

a pivoted back-check positioned above said ham` mer and engageable with the head of the ham mer upon rebound intermediate the ends of its stroke, and rigid key-actuated means for connecting and simultaneously actuating said Whip and said back-check, said spring reengaging said jack and knuckle upon release of said hammer projecting means.

2. In a piano action, a pivoted hammer having a head, a jack engaging said hammer, means for disengaging said jack from said hammer at a predetermined point in the stroke of said hammer, a double-acting spring connecting said jack and hammer and normally urging said jack in operative relation to said hammer, a key-actuated pivoted whip pivotally supporting said jack, a keyactuated pivoted back check lever positioned above and spaced from said hammer, a rigid link pivoted to and connecting said whip and lever,`

and an abutment on said lever engageable with the head'of said hammer upon rebound at an intermediate portion of its path. 3. In a piano action, a pivoted hammer having' a head, a jack engaging said hammer, means fordsengaging said jack from said hammer at a predetermined point in the stroke of said hammer, a double acting spring connecting said jack and hammer and normally urging said jack in operative relation to said hammer, a key-actuated pivoted whip pivotally supporting said jack, a keyactuated pivoted back check lever positioned above and spaced from said hammer, a rigid link pivoted to and connecting said lever and whip, and an abutment on said lever engageable with the head of said hammer upon rebound at an intermediate portion of its path, and an adjustable stop engageable by said lever.

4. In a piano action, a pivoted hammer having a head, a jack engaging said hammer, means for disengaging said jack from said hammer at a predetermined point in the stroke of said hammer, a double acting spring connecting said jack and hammer and normally urging said jack in operative relation to said hammer, a pivoted whip pivotally supporting said jack, a pivoted back check above and normally spaced from said head, and a key-actuated rigid link connecting and pivoted to said whip and said back check, said back check engaging the head of said hammer upon rebound at an intermediate portion of its path.

5. In a piano action, a pivoted hammer having a head, a jack engaging said hammer, a pivoted whip pivotally mounting said jack, a jack regulating button, a double acting spring connecting said hammer and jack and normally urging said jack into engagement with said hammer, a pivoted member positioned above and normally spaced from said head, a key-actuated rigid link connecting and pivoted to said whip and said member whereby said member shifts to a position to engage said head and arrest rebound of said hammer.

5. In a piano action, a frame including a plurality of longitudinal rails, a hammer pivoted on one rail, means for swinging said hammer including a member shiftably carried by said last named rail, a double acting spring connecting said hammer and means and urgingv the same to operative relation, a back check normally spaced above said hammer and shiftable to engage said hammer in mid-stroke upon rebound, said back check including a member shiftably carried by a second rail, a rigid link connecting said members, and key-actuated means adjustably mounted on said link.

J. G. MARKLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES EATEN'IS Number Name Date 516,451 Schubert Mar. 13, 1894 2,186,466 Morse et a1 Jan. 9, i940 2,227,741 Betz Jan. 7, 1941 2,277,077 Dasenbrook Mar. 24, 1942 2,353,074 Potwin July 14, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 92,234 France July 17, 1871 24,794 Germany Nov. 12, 1883 15,929 Great Britain Dec. 28, 1885 461,445 Great Britain Feb. 17, 1937 

